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96 Acura 3.5 RL cranks but will not start. Checked for fuel…

Customer Question

96 Acura 3.5 RL...

96 Acura 3.5 RL cranks but will not start. Checked for fuel at fuel filter service bolt. With bolt loosend 2 turns fuel spurts out on rag wrapped around filter. Don't know what pressure. Don't know how to check for spark since spark plug wires are down in cylinder head.

Mechanic's Assistant: Have you checked the engine's fuel supply? And the spark plugs -- are they all working?

Fuel is reaching fuel rail when key is turned on. Immobilizer seems to be working. When key is turned on green key light comes on for 2 seconds then goes off and stays off. Green key light blinks approx 5 times when key is turned off.

Mechanic's Assistant: What year is your RL?

1996.

Mechanic's Assistant: Are you fixing your RL yourself? What have you tried so far?

Have not replaced anything for this problem car was working fine last time driven.

Mechanic's Assistant: Anything else you want the mechanic to know before I connect you?

Timing belt was replace approx 4 months ago.

Submitted: 1 month ago.Category: Acura

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Answered in 1 minute by:

8/28/2019

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

JOHN GRETHER

Category: Acura

Satisfied Customers: 3,040

Experience: shop foreman at hendrick honda of Pompano beach

Verified

Hi, I'm John. I can assist you with this.
Please be patient as I research the issue. I may have a few questions as well for you.

Please ignore the website's prompt for a phone call upgrade It costs extra and usually isn't needed.

Ok, so did the car stall out when driving or has it been parked for some time and now wont start?

It seems like you said it was ok when parked but now just wont start.....

With the key on , not cranking, does the check engine light come on for 2 seconds and then shut off?

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I have a scan tool. I received no codes except 1 code for EGR flow insufficient on scan tool when car would not start. I cleared all codes with scan tool and received no codes when I read codes again. I have since disconnected negative battery cable for approx 15 minutes then reconnected it to see if it would change anything. But no difference.Parked car Monday night. Car would not start Tuesday morning. Yes when key is turned on check engine light maintenance reqd light oil light and batt light come on together with immobilizer green key light. Then after 2 minutes maint reqd light, check engine light, and green immobilizer light go off. Batt light and oil light stay on.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Ok, did you refuel on Monday?

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

No. Car has approx 1/4 tank of gas.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Ok, I just need to elimnate things, so the fuel is likely ok

The check engine light should go out after 2 seconds, not 2 minutes. Can you recheck that. You could have a bad main relay

key on, light on, 2 seconds later , light off.

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I don't think it's dirty fuel I usually fuel up at 7-11 and lots of other people fuel up there.what you said about key is correct.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Ok, so you seem to have fuel pressure, I suspect a spark issue.

Check the fuse labeled ignition coil under the hood.

Im sorry , its under the dash

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I will check but. It's raining now so I'll have to wait awhile. Can I log on again in a few hours or tommorrow and ask for JOHN GRETHER?

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Just reply to this thread. I will keep it open .

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

Okay Thank you Mr. Grether.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

You are welcome

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I located the fuse labeled ignition coil inside the car near the drivers left foot area in the Under-Dash-Fuel-Relay-Box. I did not find one with that name under the hood. It was a different type of fuse then I've ever seen before. I had to study it to figure out how to get it out to check it. I finally succeeded in removing it and measured it. It read approx 2 ohms. I assume that to be a good reading. So I put it back and replaced all of the trim I had removed. I reconnected the battery to see if it would start again but it still cranks but wont start.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Ok, so can you remove 1 coil and then the spark polug.

Insert the plug back in the coil with the coil connector attached. Ground the threaded part of the spark plug and crank the engine. See if there is spark when cranking

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

Thank you for replying. I was out trying to see if I could use conventional timing light clamped around spark plug wire to test for spark but that didn't work. I tried on Isuzu Rodeo which has same type set up and conventional inductive timing light did not work there either. I will try what you just suggested now grounding spark plug with spark plug wire inserted in spark plug wire pulled up out of engine.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Ok, let me know the result...

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

Sorry about the long delay. I needed to get a helper. I tried on the #4 spark plug and got a bright spark which appeared on each revolution as the starter turned the engine. I did not expect any spark but it was there.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Ok, so the fuel pressure may not be correct?

You really would need a gauge on it to tell.

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I understand. I used to have 2 sets of fuel pressure testers but I can't find the pieces needed to complete either set right now. I may have to wait until tomorrow to rent one. However, fuel is getting to the fuel rail but it might not be making it past the injectors. Can another component in the immobilizer system be allowing the spark plugs to fire but not the injectors?

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

If the immobi. is stopping the car from running the fuel pump is disabled, spark will not be.

Does the key light go off immediately when switching the key to run?

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

No the key light comes on immediately when the key is turned from off to run. But it stays on for about 2 seconds then it goes off and stays off until you turn it off again. Then the key light flashes.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

It sounds like its working correctly

Could be a bad pump or main relay

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I don't know.I hate to think it but I suppose it might be a PCM problem.What pump do you have in mind?

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Fuel pump

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I thought maybe you were thinking of another pump shorting an input away from this system. But I suppose the fuel pump's delivery may be insufficient. I guess the fuel pressure regulator could be malfunctioning too. I'll have to see about getting a pressure gauge to measure the pressure to be sure.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

Thats the next step, yes .

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I just finished measuring the fuel pressure with a fuel pressure gauge checked out from Autozone. It reads 44 psi, just over 300 kpa. It reads this amount when key is in on position. Cranking engine does not make it go up or down.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

So thats perect fuel pressure. You have spark so either the fuel is bad or there is a timing issue or there is no injector pulse.

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

I looked thru the left camshaft inspection hole a day earlier and asked a helper to crank over the engine to make sure the camshaft turned when the engine was cranked. It did turn so I don't think the timing belt went bad.

Mechanic for Acura: JOHN GRETHER,

replied 1 month ago

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